Dr.JamesManiscalco–PSYCH363(Fall2016)
Psychology363:LaboratoryinBehavioralNeuroscience
ClassDetails
Classroom:SELE3069
Time:Wednesdays2-6pm
GeneralCourseInformation
Professor
TeachingAssistant
Dr.JamesManiscalco
SineadhConway
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office:BSB2056A
OfficeHours:byappointment
TeachingAssistant
SamiCorwin
[email protected]
CourseObjectives
1. Youwilldevelopadeepknowledgeofbehavioralneurosciencethroughlectures,laboratoryexercises,andreadingsonnumerousanddiverse
behavioralneurosciencetopics.
2. Youwilldevelopabroadknowledgeaboutthefieldofneuroscience.
3. Youwilldevelopskillsinreadingandcriticallyevaluatingprimaryneuroscienceliterature.
4. Youwilldevelopanunderstandingofneurosciencehypothesisgeneration,researchdesignandmethods,techniques,statisticaldataanalysis,
drawingconclusionsandinsights.
5. Youwilldevelopcommunicationskillsforpresentingneuroscienceresearch.
CourseOverview
Thegoalofthislaboratorycourseistoprovideyouwithbothanunderstandingofthestructureandfunctionofthebrainasitrelatesto(andinteracts
with)theworldaroundusaswellasanunderstandingofhowwearriveatthe“facts”thatfillourtextbooksinBehavioralNeuroscience.The
conclusionswe’vereachedabouthowthebrainandnervoussystemgeneratesbehaviorarebasedonempiricaldatacollectedfromexperiments
conductedinlaboratorysettings.Inthiscourse,youwilllearnaboutneuroanatomy,neurophysiology,andneurobiologicalcontributionstobehavior.
Allofthecourseobjectiveswillbemetthrough“handson”experienceandexperimentationaswellasreviewofprimaryneuroscienceliterature.
Thus,you’llgainastrongappreciationforthescientificprocessingeneral.
1 Dr.JamesManiscalco–PSYCH363(Fall2016)
CourseContent
Thecoursewillbeginwithlecturesthatprovideacriticalunderstandingofboththecellularlevelinformationaboutindividualbraincells(neurons
andglia)andtheirplacewithinthenervoussystem.Wewillthenexpandthisviewofneuralcircuitstoplacethemwithinthefunctional
neuroanatomyofthebrain,andcoverhowsingleneuronscommunicatewithoneanotherwithinthebrain.Atthispoint,youwillhavebeen
introducedtothebasicsofneuralstructureandfunctionatthemicro,meso,andmacrolevels.
Asthebraindoesnotoperateinisolation,thenextsectionwillfocusonprocessingofincomingsensoryinformationaswellasgenerationof
movementandmotorbehavior.Askeyexamplesofthemanysensorymodalities,wewilllikelycoverbasicprocessingofauditoryandvisual
information.Withanunderstandingofhowthebrainprocessesincomingsensoryinformation,wewillcovermovement,asthegenerationand
coordinationofmotorbehaviorisoneofthemostfundamentalrolesofthebrain,allowingforinteractionwiththerestoftheworld.Toapplythe
sensoryandmotortopicslearned,wewillusetheinformationcoveredthusfartoanalyzetheneurosciencebehindhowabaseballplayerhitsa
fastball.
Aftercoveringneuralstructureandfunction,processingofsensoryinformation,andgenerationofmotorbehavior,wewilldiscussthe“behavioral
basics”–i.e.,someprincipalneuraldriversofbehavior–startingwithaninvestigationofhowthebrainprocessesemotions,whichresultfromour
sensoryexperiencesanddriveourbehavioralchoices.Wewillhighlighttheneurobiologyofstressandanxietyinparticular.Followingthis,wewill
delveintotheneuralsubstratesoflearningandmemory,theprocessbywhichpreviousexperiencecandrivefuturebehavior.Afterunderstanding
howthebrainprocessestheseintegralbehavioralphenomena,wewillcovertheneuralsubstratesunderlyingbodyfluidhomeostasis,acritical
physiologicalneedthatinfluencesallotherbehaviors.Tofinishthecourse,wewillreviewtheconceptsofconsciousnessandsleep,twobrainstates
thatarethemostbasicdeterminantsofanybehaviors.
Eachclasswillbeginwithabout45-60minutesoflecture/discussion.Slides,madeavailableonblackboard,willbeusedtointroducetheday’slab
exercise.Thismaterialwilloftenservetohelpyoucraftassignedwrittenwork(seebelow).Thus,itwillbeimperativethatyoulistencarefullyandask
questionsifyoudonotunderstandthematerialbeingpresented.Inaddition,youwillreadoriginal,peer-reviewedresearcharticlesrelatedto
experimentsconductedinthelabcourse.Readingsshouldbecompletedbeforetheclassdateforwhichtheyareassigned.
Itisourhopethateachstudentlearnsthematerialandsucceeds.Ifatanypointyouarestrugglingwiththematerialitisimperativethatyoumeet
withmyselforoneoftheTAs!
2 Dr.JamesManiscalco–PSYCH363(Fall2016)
ClassSchedule
**Note:allreadings&assignmentswillneedtobecompletedpriortotheclassdaylistedbelow**
Readings
Quizzes
Salivarycortisol
PortraitsoftheMind–Ch.2
BiologicalPsychology–Ch.2
BiologicalPsychology–Ch.2
LabPracticum
Carlson–Ch.2(41-51)
Weietal.(2005)
Carlson–Ch.2(51-64)
Rothman,2008
TBD
YourBrainonCubs–Ch.3
Carlson–Ch.17(601–606)
Sapolskyetal.(1985)
Sapolskyetal.(1990)
10/26/16 Learning&MemoryI
ConditionedTasteAversion
TBD
Quiz8
11
11/2/16
ConditionedTasteAversion
Bernsteinetal.(1982)
Barotetal.(2008)
Quiz9
12
11/9/16
13
11/16/16 BodyFluidHomeostasis
14
11/23/16
15
11/30/16 Consciousness&Sleep
16
12/7/16
Week
Date
1
8/24/16
Introduction&Neuroanatomy HistologyRotations
2
8/31/16
Neuroanatomy
Sheepbraindissection
3
4
9/7/16
9/14/16
Neuroanatomy
Sheepbraindissection
5
9/21/16
NerveConductionVelocity
UlnarNerveLab
6
9/28/16
ActionPotential
RecordingAPs(SpikerBox)
7
10/5/16
Sensation,Perception,
Movement
JustNoticeableDifference
8
10/12/16 Stress&Anxiety
Salivarycortisol
9
10/19/16 Emotion
10
3 Topic
Learning&MemoryII
Lab
LabReportAssignments
Quiz1
1-pagereportonbrainareadue
Quiz2
Quiz3
Quiz4
Abstractonconductionvelocitydue
Quiz5
Abstractonactionpotentialdue
Quiz6
AbstractonJNDdue
Quiz7
StressLabReport–Draft1Due:
Title,Abstract,Introduction,&
Methods
NoClass–ComerSymposiumAttendance(StressLabReport–Draft1returned)
ComerSymposiumSummaryNotes&
Carlson–Ch.12(394–402)
StressLabReport–Draft2Due:
AngII&ThirstinRats
Quiz10
Buggy&Fisher(1976)
Results,Discussion,References,
Figures,andFigureLegends
NoClass-Thanksgiving
Carlson–Ch.9(289-293,
Brainwave(EEG)recordings
StressLabReport–Draft2returned
299-308,315-317)
NoClass–FinalLabReportDue
Dr.JamesManiscalco–PSYCH363(Fall2016)
Grading
GradingPhilosophy:
Yourgradeoneachgradeditemstartsatzero,andthenincreasesinrelationtothequalityofyourwork.Pleasedonotask“whydidyoutakepoints
offforthisorthat?”,sincethatquestionimpliesthatthepointswereyourstobeginwith,andhadbeentakenfromyou.Toensureyouarereceiving
thehighestlevelofeducationpossible,UICrequiresstudentstoearntheirdegrees.Accordingly,theburdenisonyoutodemonstratewhyyou
earnedthepointsinquestion.Thisapproachhasyouassumeaproactiveroleinyoureducation–anexcellenthabittoacquireearlyinyourlifelong
journeyoflearning!
GradingProcedure:Pleasefollowtheprocedurebelowifyouwouldlikemetoreconsiderthegradethatyoureceivedonanygradeditem.Itisyour
responsibilitytosubmit,inwriting,thereason(s)youbelievethatyourgradeshouldbechanged.Pleasedonotask“whywasthisgradedthisway?”.
Instead,politelystatewhyyoubelieveyourresponseisworthyofthepointsyouseek.Thiswrittenstatementfromyoumustbesubmittedtome
withinoneweekafteryouhavereceivedyourgradeontheitem(s)inquestion.Iwillprovideawrittenresponsetoyourwrittenstatement.Most
importantly,becauseourtimeinclassislimited,andstructuredsothatyouwilllearnnewconceptsand/orrefineexistingones,classtimewillnotbe
usedtodiscussgrades.Gradesareimportant,buttheyshouldn’tpreventyoufromgettinganeducation!
GradingRubric
Assignment
WeeklyQuizzes(x10)
Reportonbrainareaofinterest
LabPracticum
Abstractonconductionvelocity
Abstractonactionpotential
Abstractonmovement
LabReport–Draft1
ComerSymposiumattendance
ComerSymposiumsummarynotes
LabReport–Draft2
FinalLabReport
Total
4 TotalPossiblePoints
50points
10points
60points
10points
10points
10points
20points
10points
10points
20points
100points
310points
MyScore
Dr.JamesManiscalco–PSYCH363(Fall2016)
Policies
Attendance&Punctuality:
Attendance,definedasbeingpresentatthestartofclassandremainingpresentforthedurationoftheclassperiod,isessentialforyoursuccessin
thiscourseandisconsideredmandatory.Absenceswillonlybeexcusedunderextremecircumstances,andwillrequiredocumentation.Toensure
weeklyattendance,yourfinalgradewillbereducedby5%foreachunexcusedabsence.Pleasenote:regardlessofwhetheranabsenceisexcusedor
not,youareresponsibleforthematerialandassignmentsdiscussedinsessionsthatyoudonotattend.Punctualityisalsoessential.Tomakethemost
ofeachsessionandtoreducedistractionstootherstudents,youareexpectedtobeinyourseatatthestartofeachclass(2:00pm).Mylaptopclock
willbethetimekeeperforourcourse.Yourfinalgradewillbereducedby2%foreachunexcusedlateness.
Assignments
Allassignmentsmustbehandedinbythestartofclassontheduedate.Noextracreditwillbegivenandnoevaluationscanbedropped.Cheatingand
plagiarismwillnotbetolerated.Anyevidenceofcheatingorplagiarismwillresultindisqualificationanda0willbeenteredforthatevaluation.
ThiscoursemeetsthePsychologymajorrequirementforwritinginthediscipline.Assuch,wewillprovidefeedbackonyourwritingwhichyouwillthen
usetoimprovethedocument.Therewillbeseveralsmallwritingassignmentswhereyouwillnotreceivefeedback.However,~1/3ofyourfinalgrade
willbebasedonasinglelabreport.Youwillbeaskedtohandindraftsofsectionsofthelabreportandyouwillreceivefeedbackonthesedrafts.
ForALLassignments(e.g.smallerwritingassignments,drafts,finallabreport)yourscorewillbereducedby10%foreachdaythattheassignmentis
late.Inthecaseofungradeddrafts,yourfinalscoreonthelabreportwillbereduced.Exceptionswillbemadeforonlythemostseriousofdocumented
circumstances.
AppropriateUseofCourseMaterials
Thematerialsdistributedinthisclass,includingthesyllabus,quizzes,handouts,studyaids,andin-classpresentations,maybeprotectedbycopyright
andareprovidedsolelyfortheeducationaluseofstudentsenrolledinthiscourse.Pleasediscussanyredistributionofcoursematerialswithme.Do
notpostcoursematerialsoryournotesfromlecturesanddiscussiononcommercialwebsites.Unauthorizedusesofcoursematerialsmaybe
consideredacademicmisconduct.
StudentswithDisabilities
Accommodationsareavailableforstudentswhohavedisabilities.Anystudentwhofeelsheorshemayneedanaccommodationbasedontheimpact
ofadisabilityshouldcontactmeprivatelyassoonaspossible(andbeforethesecondweekofclass)todiscusshisorherspecificneeds.Studentswith
disabilitieswhorequireaccommodationsforaccessandparticipationinthiscoursemustberegisteredwiththeOfficeofDisabilityServices(ODS).
PleasecontactODSat312-413-2183(voice)or312-413-0123(TTY).
5 Dr.JamesManiscalco–PSYCH363(Fall2016)
AcademicIntegrityPolicies
Idonotanticipateanyissueswithacademicintegrity,butIamobligatedtonotethefollowingattheoutsetofthiscourse.Pleasereachouttome
directlyifthereareanyquestionsorconcernsaboutacademicintegritypoliciesorstandards.
(copieddirectlyfromtheUICAcademicCataloghere)
Asanacademiccommunity,theUniversityofIllinoisatChicagoiscommittedtoprovidinganenvironmentinwhichresearch,learning,
andscholarshipcanflourishandinwhichallendeavorsareguidedbyacademicandprofessionalintegrity.Allmembersofthecampus
community—students,staff,faculty,administrators—sharetheresponsibilityofinsuringthatthesestandardsareupheldsothatsuch
anenvironmentexists.Instancesofacademicmisconductbystudents,andasdefinedherein,shallbehandledpursuanttotheStudent
DisciplinaryPolicy,whichcanbefoundonlineathttp://www.uic.edu/depts/dos/docs/Student%20Disciplinary%20Policy.pdf.
Academicdishonestyincludes,butisnotlimitedto:
Cheating:Eitherintentionallyusingorattemptingtouseunauthorizedmaterials,information,people,orstudyaidsinanyacademic
exercise,orextendingtoorreceivinganykindofunauthorizedassistanceonanyexaminationorassignmenttoorfromanother
person.
Fabrication:Knowingorunauthorizedfalsification,reproduction,lackofattribution,orinventionofanyinformationorcitationinan
academicexercise.
FacilitatingAcademicDishonesty/Plagiarism:Intentionallyorknowinglyrepresentingthewordsorideasofanotherasone’sownin
anyacademicexercise.
Bribes,Favors,Threats:Bribingorattemptingtobribe,promisingfavorstoormakingthreatsagainst,anyperson,withtheintention
ofaffectingarecordofagrade,grade,orevaluationofacademicperformance.Anyconspiracywithanotherpersonwhothentakesor
attemptstotakeactiononbehalforatthedirectionofthestudent.
ExaminationbyProxy:Takingorattemptingtotakeanexamforsomeoneelseotherthanthestudentisaviolationbyboththe
studentenrolledinthecourseandtheproxyorsubstitute.
GradeTampering:Anyunauthorizedattempttochange,actualchangeof,oralterationofgradesoranytamperingwithgrades.
NonoriginalWorks:Submissionorattempttosubmitanywrittenworkauthored,inwholeorpart,bysomeoneotherthanthe
student.
6 Dr.JamesManiscalco–PSYCH363(Fall2016)
CourseNotes
• Areyousqueamish?Don’tdealwellwithbiologicalspecimensorrodents?Thiscourseismeanttobehandson,youwillbehandlingsheep
brains,ratbraintissue,andworkingwithlivelaboratoryrats.Ifyoufeelthatyou’llhavedifficultywithanyoftheabove,pleasecomespeakto
meprivately.
• PrimaryliteraturetakesALOToftimeandpatiencetoread,pleaseplanaccordingly.
o Wewillreviewprimaryliteraturereadingsinclass.
o Thesereadingsareassignedtogiveyouabackgroundforthelabexercisesandthedatathatiscollectedinneuroscienceresearch.
o Thesereadingswillgiveyouanunderstandingofwhatisexpectedfromyourlabreport.
o Paycarefulattentionnotonlytotheoverallstructureandthemes,buttothedetails:howarethestatisticsrepresentedand
discussed,howarefigurelegendswritten.
7